Desk lamp



March 20, 1945. R EIR 2,371,861

DES K LAMP Filed March 11, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l zzqgvi zz/z I INVENTOR.

- A'I'TORNEYS. i

March 20, 1945.

R. WEIR 2,371,861

DESK LAMP Filed March 11, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zz/er INVENTOR.

I V ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' DESKLAMP Ralph Weir, Chicago, Ill. Application March 11, 1943, Serial No. #178,774

4 Claims. v(c1. 243-194) My invention relates to fluorescent lamps, and

my main object is to provide a lamp of thi kind which uses practically no metal in its frame work or structural make-up.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp of the above type which is assembled from composition stock of any character which is not readily inflammable.

Another object of the invention is to construct a lamp of this character in a manner to adapt the same to any conventional design of fluorescent desk lamps.

' A still further object of the invention is to so design the novel lamp that it may be made up from stock of limited thickness," such as the fibreboard known as Masonite.

Another object of the invention is to construct the units and parts of the lamp in a manner to make it readily assemblable from odd remnants of Masonite stock which are otherwise discarded.

An important object of the invention i to con struct a lamp of the above character in a manner to render its cost relatively small and its assembly easy.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying'drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved Fig. 2 is a similar view cut away in places to expose the interior of the lamp;

Fig; 3 is an enlarged section of the lamp on th line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and with its medial portion broken away;

Fig. 4 is a perspective section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of an end guard for the lamp head and base.

Primarily, the development of the instant lamp .follows a trend 'to depart from the use of metal semblable by glue, cement or other means to form units of such added thickness as may be desired. The present lamp is of a character utilizing standard Masonite stock, mostly in single thicknesses, in a manner to form a simple and sturdy structure.

Generally, the improved lamp is composed of a base, a pair of columns near the ends thereof, and a head supported by the columns.

The base is generally. denoted in the drawings by the numeral l0, and comprises a thin sheet of the Masonite or like .fibre which assumes a gradual arch from frontto rear, and is preferably pre-fabricated in this form by means of heat and pressure. The base lfl 'receives a bottom rail H at the rear and bottom rails l2.at the sides, the latter receiving upstanding wall pieces l3 against their inner edges, and the wall piece being secured to the side rails by screws M. The top contour of. the wall pieces l3 conforms to the shape of the base 10, fitting inside the edges thereof.

The base is secured to'the wall pieces 13 by an application of glue or other adhesive.

The'wall pieces I3 are recessed at the rear as indicated at I5 to receive the back rail H, the latter being glued to the wall pieces in order to hold its place; also, the upper face of the back rail II is made with a longitudinal groove I6 adapted to receive the rear end of the base ID with an application of glue,.this joint locking the base sheet against accidental separation.

The wall pieces [3 are reinforced on the outside by blocks H which are either glued to the wall pieces or integral therewith. The blocks H are shorter at the bottom than the wall pieces and are adapted to over-lie the side rails l2 and thus use these as supports. for the base. The side rails are extended with'inward bends 18 at their front ends, such bends being under-cut essary thickness for th column, and second to facilitate the formation-of passages therein for the feed wire leads 22 and 23 extending from the base to the head of the lamp. Since it is difficult and impracticable to drill or bore passages of this kind in the Masonite material, a

- into the head 39.

} umns, so that the lamp head simple method to. form them is to rout a pair of grooves 24 in the inner face of one of the column rails before these are glued together. The outer walls of the grooves are cut away as indicated at 25 to provide outlets for the leads 22 and 23 to the transformer and switch usually located in the base of the lamp (not shown).

The column 20 is reduced in thickness to form a stem 26 where the column enters the base. The latter is of course cut with openings 21 for this purpose, and the column is formed with curved shoulders or ledges 28 over the base to conform to its curvature. The column stems 2B occur along the inner faces of the wall pieces 13; and they are secured to the same by screws 29. Thus, when the columns are so secured, the portions thereof which rest on the base serve to hold the latter down in the manner of clamps.

The columns rise into the lamp head 30 and terminate spacedly from the top of the same. The lamp head is a sheet of material similar to the basel I! and it is reinforced in the same manner. Thus, the rear end of the lamp head fits into the top groove 3| of a back rail 32; and the latter receives side pieces 33 opposite its ends to form supports for the head 30. Outerv guards 34 are applied to the side pieces 33, being secured from the inside thereof by screws 35. As in the previous case, the guards 34 hav inward bands 36 to form the retainers for the front end of the head 30.

The back rail 32 is cut with recesses 31 from the front to permit the passage of the columns 20 The back rail 32 carries upstanding blocks 38 along the outer sides of the recesses 3'! and screws 39 pass outwardly through the columns into the respective blocks 38 to form pivotal supports for the lamp head from the colmay be adjusted accordingly.

A curved strip 40 is led into the head 30 to serve as a reflector in conjunction with the forward portiomoi the head. The strip 40 is backed against the blocks 38, whose frontal edges are curved similarly to the strip; and screws 4| serve to secure the reflector strip to the blocks. Screws 42 are applied from the bottom of the back rail 32 into the blocks 38 in order to secure the same to the'back rail. The electric lead wires 22 and 23 are shown emerging from the upper ends of the columns, and it will be understood that they will be led through suitable passages in the reflector strip 48 into the frontal compartment of the head to connect with the fluorescent tube unit (not shown) It will be evident from the above description that I have provided a lamp which is basically formed in the three units of the base, columns and head. However, each of these units, while combining to form a fluorescent desk lamp of conventional design, has its own make-up peculiar to the form of material used. Thus, the base l0 and head 30 utiliz the sheet form of Masonite or other suitable fibre, while the side pieces l3 and 33 reinforce the base and head respectively. Moreover, the side pieces 13 receive additional material in the extension I 'l to provide a firm support for the columns 20. The latter combine the use of two-ply material with the advantage of passages easily made in the face of one ply, resulting in a column which is both sturdy and incorporates the proper passages for the wire leads. In the lamp head, the back rail 32 not only forms a basic support, but also furnishes a locking retainer at the rear for the head 30; and it has the further function of carrying the blocks 38 which are pivoted to the columns. The outer guards l2 and 34 form simple external reinforcements and frontal retainers for the lamp base and head, respectively. Altogether, the novel lamp is made up of the fewest number of parts which will give it strength, proper form, required utility and durability for an extended period of use, while employing a material which is cheap, easily fabricated to size and form and susceptible of development and ornamentation to suit any number of designs and styles.

While I have described the improved desk lamp along specific lines, it is apparent that minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider all such changes and refinements as coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A'lamp having a head, columns supporting the same, and a base receiving the columns, said base comprising a pair of side pieces alongside the bottom portions of the columns, securing means directed laterally from said portions into the respective side pieces, and a top over the latter and perforated for the passage of said portions into the base.

2. The structure of claim 1, a back rail receiving the rear ends of the side pieces, and a retentive joint in the back rail for the rear end of the top.

3. The structure of claim 1, and a back rail receiving the rear ends of the side pieces and longitudinally grooved to tightly lodge the rear end of the top.

4.'The structure of claim 1, guard rails outside the side pieces, and inward frontal bends of the guard rails upon the front of the top to retain the same upon the side pieces.

- RALPH WEIR. 

